Need for a culture of tolerance in religion, Syria-Lebanon religious figures

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad said Syria and Lebanon represent Christianity and Islam in the East, asserting that spiritual leaderships have to shoulder this responsibility at a time the real principles of Islam and Christianity are being tarred by false allegations.

In a meeting with Lebanon's Grand Mufti, Sheikh Mohammad Rashid Qabbani, on Monday, both sides discussed cooperation between Dar-al-Ifta in both states and means of invigorating it in the interest of the Syrian-Lebanese community which derives its spiritual values from the same source.

Qabbani is accompanied by Mufti of Bekaa Sheikh Khalil al-Mis, Chairman of Sunni Islamic Shariaa Courts in Lebanon Sheikh Abdullatif Dariyan, Sheikh Mahmoud al-Raqatti Mufti of Sidon, Director General of Dar-al-Ifta Mahmoud al-Nukri, Lebanese Former Minister Omar Miskawi and Mohammad Raghib Qabbani.

Attending the meeting was Syria's Grand Mufti, Sheikh Ahmad Badruddin Hassoun.

Earlier, Minister of Islamic Trusts (Awqaf) Sheikh Ahmad Badruddin Hassoun underscored importance of consultation between scholars in Syria and Lebanon in the interest of spreading amity and a culture of tolerance among peoples.

In a meeting with Qabbani, both sides discussed prospects of cooperation between the Ministry of Trusts and Lebanese Dar-al-Ifta.

For his part, Qabbani said relations between Lebanon and Syria is a firm principle, asserting his country's rejection of attempts to sow discord between Syria and Lebanon.

Worth noting that Christians in Lebanon and Syria enjoy full liberty to freedom of worship and religious practice without government interference.